KNOW IT ALL: Wednesday's Top 6 Stories at NBC News

Police forces march toward pro-democracy protesters during a standoff outside the central government offices in Hong Kong on October 14, 2014. Hong Kong police vowed October 14 to tear down more street barricades manned by pro-democracy protesters, hours after hundreds of officers armed with chainsaws and boltcutters partially cleared two major roads occupied for a fortnight. PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP - Getty Images

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Oct. 15, 2014, 10:55 AM GMT / Updated Oct. 15, 2014, 10:34 AM GMT

Good morning. Here are some of the stories we’re following at NBC News:

1. Second health worker in Texas has Ebola

A second health care worker in Texas has tested positive for Ebola. The worker, like a nurse who also contracted the virus, cared for Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who became the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is moving a team of experts to help the Dallas hospital where Duncan was treated. Read more in NEWS.

2. Majority says country is ready for Ebola outbreak

A slim majority of Americans in a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll says that the country is ready for an outbreak of Ebola, but only one in 10 rates it as “very prepared.” Confidence in the country’s readiness varies by party: While 61 percent of Democrats believe the United States is prepared, only 52 percent of Republicans say the same. The poll also finds a mostly positive view of the CDC. Read more in NEWS.

3. Republicans hold an edge as midterms near

Republicans hold a slight advantage over Democrats with the midterm election less than three weeks away. The NBC News poll finds an edge of 2 percentage points among likely voters, narrower than the 7-point advantage at the same time in 2010, before Republicans made big congressional gains. The poll finds that voters are less interested in the election than in the past — and angrier with Washington. Read more in POLITICS.

4. Severe weather threat moves to Northeast

The threat of severe weather is on its way to the Northeast after a day of violent storms in the South. Tens of thousands of people in six states were left without power on Tuesday, and two tornadoes touched down in the Atlanta area. No one was killed, but the same storm system was blamed for two deaths on Monday. Meanwhile, a hurricane is taking aim at Bermuda. Read more in WEATHER.

5. Worst violence yet in Hong Kong democracy protests

Police officers in Hong Kong kicked a handcuffed protester, and officers with riot shields and pepper spray knocked activists to the ground in the worst violence since pro-democracy protesters broke out there two weeks ago. The protester who was kicked was shown on television splashing water on officers before he was attacked. One pro-democracy lawmaker says police “have gone insane.” Read more in NEWS.

6. Royals move one step closer to World Series

The darlings of the baseball playoffs, the Kansas City Royals, are a win away from the World Series. The Royals, in the postseason for the first time in three decades, beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 on Tuesday night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series. In the National League, the San Francisco Giants moved ahead 2-1 in their series with the St. Louis Cardinals. Read more from NBC Sports.

… What’s trending today?

Michelle Obama held an #AskTheFirstLady session on Tuesday and answered questions about her Let’s Move campaign for exercise and healthy eating. It yielded this gift to the Internet: Her take on “Turn Down for What.”